SISSIES GO TO MEXICO

Two young sisters enjoy a fun vacation in Mexico in this children’s board book.

An unnamed narrator tells her younger sister about their upcoming trip to Mexico. As the blond, blue-eyed, light-skinned sisters pack their suitcases, the narrator describes what they will experience on their excursion. For example, she says that in Mexico, they will “wear sombreros and take them home,” and on arrival, their family will be “greeted with drinks.” The older sister also explains how they will examine local plant and animal life and even meet creatures like a coatimundi and an iguana. The girl assures her younger sister that she will adore new things such as a quesadilla, “just melted cheese inside a tortilla.” The rhyme here is sparse and lively. In this third installment of a series, Howard’s cheerful text includes some Spanish words and phrases: “The cabana is a great place to take a siesta.” The straightforward travel story doesn’t delve into Mexico’s rich culture and history. It consists of the sisters’ brief explorations of both the environmental and sightseeing aspects of the country and regular vacation pursuits, such as buying souvenirs and lunching on the beach. Featuring Rouaux’s cartoonlike illustrations, the tale portrays the characters with big, round eyes. The colorful, sunny images mostly mirror happenings in the text, showing the sisters participating in typical tourist activities. For example, when the siblings “dance to music and the loud ocean waves,” they are depicted shaking maracas.

A simple, upbeat travel adventure.